Sonographic gallbladder wall thickness measurement and the prediction of esophageal varices among cirrhotics.

Acute variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT) is the most serious emergency complication among those patients and could have catastrophic outcomes if not timely managed. Early screening by esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) for the presence of esophageal varices (EVs) is currently recommended by the practice guidelines for all cirrhotic patients. Meanwhile, EGD is not readily accepted or preferred by many patients. The literature is rich in studies to investigate and validate non-invasive markers of EVs prediction aiming at reducing the unneeded endoscopic procedures. Gallbladder (GB) wall thickness (GBWT) measurement has been found promising in many published research articles. We aim to highlight the validity of sonographic GBWT measurement in the prediction of EVs based on the available evidence. We searched databases including Cochrane library, PubMed, Web of Science and many others for relevant articles. GBWT is associated with the presence of EVs in cirrhotic patients with PHT of different etiologies. The cut-off of GBWT that can predict the presence of EVs varied in the literature and ranges from 3.1 mm to 4.35 mm with variable sensitivities of 46%-90.9% and lower cut-offs in viral cirrhosis compared to non-viral, however GBWT > 4 mm in many studies is associated with acceptable sensitivity up to 90%. Furthermore, a relation was also noticed with the degree of varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy. Among cirrhotics, GBWT > 3.5 mm predicts the presence of advanced (grade III-IV) EVs with a sensitivity of 45%, the sensitivity increased to 92% when a cut-off ≥ 3.95 mm was used in another cohort. Analysis of these results should carefully be revised in the context of ascites, hypoalbuminemia and other intrinsic GB diseases among cirrhotic patients. The sensitivity for prediction of EVs improved upon combining GBWT measurement with other non-invasive predictors, e.g., platelets/GBWT.

Endoscopic resection of superficial bowel neoplasia: The unmet needs in the Egyptian practice.

BACKGROUND: Management of superficial bowel neoplasia (SBN) in early stages is associated with better outcomes. The last few decades experienced a paradigm shift in the management of SBN with the introduction of advanced endoscopic resection techniques (ERTs). However, there are no clear data about the aspects of ERTs in Egypt despite the growing gastroenterology practice. AIM: To investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of ERTs toward management of SBN among Egyptian practitioners and the suitability of the endoscopy units' infrastructures toward these techniques. METHODS: An online 2-pages questionnaire was used. The first page comprised demographic data, and questions for all physicians, about the knowledge (11 questions) of and attitude (5 questions) toward ERTs as a therapeutic option for SBN. The second page investigated the practice of ERTs by endoscopists (6 questions) and the infrastructures of their endoscopy units (14 questions). The survey was disseminated through July 2021 and the data were collected in an excel sheet and later analyzed anonymously. RESULTS: The complete responses were 833/2300 (36.2%). The majority of the participants were males (n = 560, 67.2%), middle-aged (n = 366, 43.9%), consultants (n = 464, 55.7%), gastroenterologists (n = 678, 81.4%), spending ≥ 15 years in practice (n = 368, 44.2%), and were working in university hospitals (n = 569, 68.3%). The majority correctly identified the definition of SBN (88.4%) and the terms polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) (92.1%, 90.2%, and 89.1% respectively). However, 26.9%, 43.2% and 49.5% did not recognize the clear indication of polypectomy, EMR, and ESD respectively. Although 68.1% of physicians are convinced about the ERTs for management of SBN; only 8.9% referred all candidate cases for ERTs. About 76.5% of endoscopists had formal training in the basic polypectomy techniques while formal training for EMR and ESD was encountered only in 31.9% and 7.2% respectively. About 71.6% and 88.4% of endoscopists did not perform EMR or ESD in the last one year. Consequently, the complication rate reported by endoscopists was limited to 18.1% (n = 103) of endoscopists. Only 25.8% of endoscopists feel confident in the management of ERTs-related complications and a half (49.9%) were not sure about their competency. Regarding the endoscopy units' infrastructures, only 4.2% of the centers had their endoscopes 100% armed with optical enhancements and 54.4% considered their institutions ready for managing ERTs-related complications. Only 18.3% (n = 104) of endoscopists treated their complicated cases surgically because the most frequent ERTs-related complications were procedural bleeding (26.7%), and perforations (17%). CONCLUSION: A significant deficiency was reported in the knowledge and attitude of Egyptian practitioners caring for patients with SBN toward ERTs. The lack of trained endoscopists in both EMR and ESD in part is due to unsuitable infrastructures of many endoscopy units.

Ramadan fasting and liver diseases: A review with practice advices and recommendations.

Ramadan fasting is obligatory for Muslim healthy adults. However, there are many exemptions from fasting; including patients, whose diseases will be aggravated by fasting. Muslim patients with different liver diseases are frequently seen in the clinics discussing their intent to fast this month with their treating physicians. To answer our patients' inquiries about the expected benefits and/or risks of fasting and delivering them the best care, we carried out this review and we draw advices and recommendations based on the available evidence. A web-based search, combining multiple keywords representing different liver diseases with Ramadan fasting had been carried out. To answer the research question: Do adult Muslim patients with different liver diseases who fast the month of Ramadan have had a deleterious effect on their health in comparison to those who did not fast? Relevant publications were retrieved. No randomized controlled trials were focusing on Ramadan fasting and liver diseases in the filtered databases, eg Cochrane library. Consequently, non-filtered databases, eg PubMed, Google Scholar and Egyptian Knowledge Bank searched and full-text high-quality research articles were carefully analysed to draw recommendations. Other relevant publications with low quality of evidence like case studies and short communications were also reviewed to address practice advices. Although Ramadan fasting was found beneficial for patients with NAFLD, it was found deleterious to patients with Child B and C cirrhosis and patients with peptic ulcer. Patients with chronic hepatitis, Child A cirrhosis and those with non-complicated liver transplant can fast with prefasting assessment and strict follow up.

How frequent is sleep-disordered breathing among Egyptian cirrhotic adults?

AIM OF THE STUDY: Liver cirrhosis is an irreversible destructive liver disease that is associated with a wide range of complications. Among the recognized comorbidities of liver cirrhosis are sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), which is being more and more often described among cirrhotics. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of SDB among Egyptian post-viral cirrhotic adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study enrolled 48 post-viral cirrhotic patients and 16 apparently healthy control subjects. All patients and controls were evaluated by thorough history taking, full clinical examination, laboratory investigations, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire, the Berlin Questionnaire and polysomnography. RESULTS: Patients and controls were comparable as regards baseline demographics. Patients with liver cirrhosis had higher frequency of SDB compared to controls (56.2% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.002). The most frequently encountered SBD patterns among cirrhotics were obstructive sleep apnea and apnea hypopnea index. Moreover, SDB was more severe among cirrhotics (25% were mild, 16.6% were moderate and 14.6% were severe obstructive sleep apnea - OSA) compared to the healthy controls (all were mild). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that post-viral cirrhotic patients had a wide range of SDB with variable degrees of severity compared to the healthy controls.

Image case: celiac disease in 14 years old girl with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the small intestine. Classic symptoms in children include gastrointestinal disorders as chronic diarrhea, malabsorption and failure to grow normally. It is associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroiditis and diabetes mellitus type 1 . Mild or absent gastrointestinal symptoms may be found specially in older people.Celiac disease may be presented with rare but life threatening crisis. 14 years old underbuilt anemic (iron deficiency) girl with type 1 diabetes mellitus without gastrointestinal symptoms was endoscopicaly examined for clinical suspicion of Celiac disease. On endoscopic examination there was fissurization (cracked-mud ) of the mucosa of the duodenal bulb as well as descending duodenum. Pathological examination of the endosopic biopsies confirmed the diagnosis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in celiac disease usually shows scalloped (indentations and erosions) blunted duodenal mucosa, visible mucosal vessels, micronodular appearance of the mucosa and mucosal fissures(cracked-mud). Duodenal biopsy shows villous blunting with intraepithelial lymphocytosis

Endoscopic injection of autologous blood versus diluted epinephrine for control of actively bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers: a randomized-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: A preliminary report showed that autologous blood is an effective and easily applicable technique that can control actively bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers. The aim of this study was to test whether an endoscopic injection of autologous blood is comparable to an endoscopic injection of diluted epinephrine in controlling bleeding from gastroduodenal ulcers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients with actively bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers were assigned randomly to either an autologous blood injection (group A, n=50) or a diluted epinephrine injection (group B, n=50) along the edges of the ulcers. Groups were compared for rates of initial hemostasis, rebleeding, and complications. RESULTS: All patients initially achieved hemostasis (100%). Rebleeding occurred in four patients from group A (8%) and five patients from group B (10%). Two patients in group B developed cardiovascular complications (arrhythmia and ischemic heart attack), whereas none in group A developed complications. CONCLUSION: Autologous blood is effective, comparable to diluted epinephrine in achieving initial hemostasis from actively bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers, associated with an 8% rebleeding rate, and led to no complications.

Role of water in the transmission of cyclosporiarsis in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt.

Water samples were collected form five residential areas in El-Ekhewa Village where the human populations use this water for daily activity and for consumption. These water sources were Bahr El-Baker drain, low running irrigation canal, underground water at shallow depth (3-8 m), finished piped water and underground water >35 m deep. The samples were concentrated by flocculation method and the concentrated pellets were examined by ultraviolet (UV) epifluorescence microscopy for Cyclospora oocysts. The densities of water contamination by 8-10 microm oocysts/liter in the five sources were respectively: 2400, 1900, 700, 200 and zero. This indicated that finished water was sewage contaminated. Stool samples from 109 diarrheal patients and 231 non-diarrheal ones from these areas were examined by the acid fast-trichrome stain, Saline Haemo De single slide trichrome stain and by standard bacteriologic techniques. Those with Cyclospora as single pathogen were considered (5.6%) of diarrheal and (2.3%) of the non-diarrheal individuals. The correlation between the density of water contamination and the prevalence of cyclosporiasis among the individuals of each area was significant. No doubt, water was the main vehicle of transmission in the present community. Soil contact and poultry were significant risk factors.